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Strasburg was nearly flawless in his AAA debut (Photo courtesy of Associated Press).

Strasburg One-Hit the Norfolk Tides in AAA Debut on Wednesday

Syracuse, N.Y. (Thursday, May 13, 2010) – Pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg will reportedly take the mound for the second time in a Syracuse Chiefs uniform on Tuesday, May 18th, following up a six inning one-hit performance he put forth in his AAA debut on Wednesday evening. Strasburg struck out seven on 80 pitches in his first start in Syracuse after being called up from the AA Harrisburg Senators, leading the Chiefs to a 7-0 shutout of the Norfolk Tides.

"You can't worry about the caliber hitters you're facing," Strasburg said Wednesday. "You have to worry about what's in your control, and that's executing pitches to the best of your ability, and good pitchers should get good hitters out."

13,766 spectators packed into Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse to catch a glimpse of the San Diego phenom in his debut, and the upper New York baseball fans quickly became believers in the Strasburg hype.

"It's early on in the season and they're not (Syracuse management), as far as a development standpoint, going to want me to go out there and throw a no-hitter," Strasburg humbly remarked. "That'd be great and everything, but there's a lot I have to learn still, and I'll focus on that."

After compiling a 13–1 record with a 1.32 ERA in his final season at San Diego State last year, Strasburg was quickly selected as the top pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Washington Nationals and breathed hope into the game of baseball in the nation’s capital. He began his professional career in AA Harrisburg and registered a 3-1 record and a 1.64 ERA in four starts before his recent call-up to Syracuse.

The opposition for Strasburg in his next start will be the Rochester Red Wings, with that road pairing getting underway at 7:05 p.m.